For additional information on the outline topics click Astronomy On The Web
 
 

I. Astronomy and The Universe: An Overview

A. The Nature of Astronomy

    1. Scientific vs. Non-scientific

    2. Observational vs. Experimental

    3. Fundamental vs. Applied

B. Our Place in the Universe

    1. The Solar System

        (a) The Sun

        (b) The Heliocentric Theory

                (1) Revolution

                (2) Rotation

        (c) The Planets

                (1) Sizes and Distances

                (2) Terrestrial and Jovian

                (3) Moons

        (d) Meteoroids, Asteroids, and Comets

        (e) Scale Models of the Solar System

                (1) The Astronomical Unit

                (2) The Light Year

    2. The Milky Way Galaxy

        (a) Size and Shape

        (b) Stars

        (c) Interstellar Nebula

        (d) Star Clusters

    3. The Structure of the Universe

        (a) Galaxies

        (b) Cosmology

II. The Celestial Sphere      Voyage 2:   the Celestial Sphere and Diurnal Motion

A. Definitions

    1. Astronomical Horizon

    2. Cardinal Points

    3. Zenith and Nadir

    4. Celestial Meridian

    5. Celestial Equator

    6. North and South Celestial Poles

B. The Diurnal Motion of Celestial Objects

    1. Rising and Setting

     2. Upper and Lower Transits

C. Motions of the Sun, Moon, and Planets

D. Finding the NCP

    1. The Pointing Stars

    2. Circumpolar Constellations

    3. Constellations vs Asterisms

E. The Geocentric and Heliocentric Theories

III. Coordinate Systems and Star Maps   Voyage 4:  Coordinate Systems

A. The Geographical System

    1. Latitude and Longitude

   2. Angle and Time Units

B. The Horizon System

    1. Altitude and Azimuth

    2. Altitude of the North Celestial Pole = Latitude of the Observer

    3. Measuring Latitude and Altitude With a Quadrant or Sextant

    4. Horizon Star Maps and Mountings

C. The Equatorial System

    1. Yearly Motion of the Sun

        (a) Ecliptic

        (b) Equinoxes and Solstices

2. Right Ascension and Declination

3. Equatorial Star Maps and Mountings

4. Local Sidereal Time (LST)

D. The Sun's Diurnal Motion Seen From Different Latitudes

and Times of the Year

E. Upper Transit Altitude = 90 - Latitude + Declination

F. Seasons  Voyage 6:  Seasons

G. Precession   Voyage 5:  Precession

    1. The Pole Star

    2. Right Ascension and Declination

    3. Calendars
 
 

IV. Time (Ast205/503 only)   Voyage 3:  Telling Time by the Stars       Time Web Sites

A. Local Sidereal Time

B. Local Apparent Time (Sundial Time)

C. Local Mean Time

D. The Equation of Time

E. Time and Longitude

F. Standard Time

G. Daylight Savings Time

V. The Sun: A Typical Star              Solar Web Sites

A. Features

    1. Limb Darkening

     2. Solar Activity

        (a) The 11 year Sunspot Cycle

        (b) The 22 year Magnetic Cycle

     3. Hydrogen - Alpha and and Calcium Pictures

        (a) Prominences

        (b) Granulation

        (c) Plages

    4. Solar Wind

B. Flares and Solar-Terrestrial Relationships

    1. Radio Communication Blackouts

    2. Aurora

    3. Magnetic Storms

VI. The Solar System, A Pictorial Survey       Planet Web Sites      Government Web Sites

A. The Moon

B. Planets and Satellites   Voyage 9:  Satellite and Ring Systems

    1. The Terrestrial Planets

        (a) Mercury

        (b) Venus

        (c) Earth

        (d) Mars

        (e) Pluto

    2. The Jovian Planets

        (a) Jupiter

        (b) Saturn

        (c) Uranus

        (d) Neptune

C. Asteroids and Meteors

D. Comets
 
 

VII. Measurement and the Scientific Method

A. The Scientific Method

    1. Distance Clues

        (a) Apparent Size

        (b) Apparent Brightness

        (c) Apparent Speed

    2. Deducing The Size and Shape of the Earth

        (a) Asking the Right Questions

        (b) Observation and Experimentation

        (c) Testing and Prediction

        (b) Theories and Laws

B. Measurement

    1. Measuring with a Gnomon

        (a) Directions

        (b) Time, the Day, and the Year

        (c) Upper Transit Altitude = 90 - Latitude + Declination

    2. Measuring the Earth's Circumference - Eratosthenes

    3. The Fundamental Quantities

        (a) Space

        (b) Time

        (c) Matter

    4. The Standard Units of Measurement

        (a) Metric System

            (1) MKS

            (2) CGS

        (b) English System

C. Mathematics, The Language of Science

    1. Direct Relationships

    2. Indirect / Inverse Relationships

VIII. Ancient Cosmology

A. Before the Greeks

    1. Chinese

    2. Egyptian

    3. Hindu

    4. Babylonian

B. The Greek Period

    1. Pythagorus

        (a) The Harmony of the Universe

        (b) Geocentric Model

    2. The Spheres of Eudoxus

    3. Aristotle

        (a) Geocentric vs. Heliocentric

        (b) Heliocentric Parallax

        (c) Phases of the Moon   Voyage 7:  Lunar Phases and Eclipses

        (d) Lunar and Solar Eclipses  Voyage 7:  Lunar Phases and Eclipses

    4. Aristarchus

        (a) Heliocentric Theory

        (b) Relative Sizes of Sun, Earth, and Moon

    5. Eratosthenes

        (a) The Alexandrian School/Library

        (b) Measuring the Earth's Circumference

    6. Apollonius

        (a) Deferents and Epicycles

        (b) The Retrograde Motion of Planets

    7. Hipparchus

        (a) Trigonometry

        (b) The Discovery of Precession

        (c) The Eccentric Motion of the Sun

        (d) The Magnitude System

    8. Ptolemy

        (a) The Almagest

        (b) Geocentric Parallax

        (c) The Ptolemaic Cosmology

IX. The Birth of Modern Astronomy              History Web Sites

A. Nicolaus Copernicus

    1. Education

    2. De Revolutionibus

    3. Phases and Aspects of Planets Voyage 8:  Planetary and Retrograde Motion

    4. Sidereal and Synodic Periods

B. Tycho Brahe

    1. Planetary Observations

    2. The Tyconic Cosmology

C. Johannes Kepler

    1. Conic Sections

    2. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion  Voyage 1:  The Motion of Celestial Objects

        (a) Commentaries on the Motions of Mars

        (b) The Harmony of the Worlds

D. Galileo    Voyage 9  :  Satellite and Ring Systems

    1. Telescopic Observations: The Starry Messenger

    2. The Trial of Galileo: Dialog on the Great World Systems

X. Gravitational Astronomy

A. Sir Isaac Newton

    1. The Principia

    2. Newton's Laws of Motion

    3. The Universal Law of Gravity

    4. Weight

    5. The Acceleration of Gravity

B. Orbital Motion

    1. Free Fall

    2. Types of Orbits

    3. Energy Considerations

        (a) Kinetic Energy

        (b) Potential Energy

        (c) The Conservation of Energy

C. Measuring Masses
 
 

XI. Light

A. The Nature of Light

    1. The Electromagnetic Spectrum

    2. Waves, Photons, and Energy

    3. Laws

        (a) Inverse Square  Voyage 10:   Magnitudes and the H-R Diagram

        (b) Refraction

         (c) Dispersion

        (d) Reflection

B. Atmospheric Effects

    1. Selective Absorption and Scattering

        (a) Ozone Layer - Gamma Rays, X rays, Ultraviolet

        (b) Greenhouse Effect - Infrared

    2. Atmospheric Refraction

    3. Scintillation

    4. Seeing

XII. Telescopes           Telescopes and Observatories Web Sites

A. Types

    1. Refractors

    2. Reflectors

    3. Other

B. Properties

    1. Focal Ratio and Speed

    2. Scale and Image Size

    3. Magnifying Power

    4. Light Gathering Power

    5. Resolving Power

C. Optical Aberrations

    1. Chromatic

    2. Spherical

    3. Coma

XIII. Astronomical Spectroscopy A. Kirchhoff's Laws

B. Stellar Structure

    1. Interior

    2. Photosphere

    3. Chromosphere

    4. Corona

C. The Doppler Effect

D. Black Body Radiation Laws

    1. Planck Curves

    2. Wein's Law

    3. Stephans' Law

    4. Intrinsic Luminosity

E. Stellar Spectra and Classification

F. The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram   Voyage 10:  Magnitudes and the H-R Diagram

    1. Main Sequence

    2. Red Giants

    3. Super Giants

    4. White Dwarfs

G. Atomic Structure (Ast205/504 only)
 
 

XIV. Stellar Evolution

A. Interstellar Nebula, Dust, and Gas

B. The Birth of Stars

    1. Collapsing Clouds

    2. Hydrostatic Equilibrium - Gas Pressure vs Gravity

    3. The Source of Energy: Nuclear Fusion

        (a) Hydrogen "burning"

        (b) Helium "burning"

C. The Mass-Luminosity Law and the Rate of Stellar Evolution

D. Middle Aged Stars

    1. Main Sequence Stars

    2. Red Giants

    3. Cepheid Variables

        (a) Period-luminosity Relationship

        (b) Measuring Distances

    4. Mass Loss

        (a) Solar Wind

        (b) Planetary Nebula

        (c) Novae and Supernovae

E. Dying Stars

    1. White Dwarfs

    2. Neutron Stars and Pulsars

    3. Black Holes

F. Binary Stars

    1. Visual

    2. Spectroscopic

    3. Eclipsing

G. Observational Evidence of Stellar Evolution

    1. H-R Diagrams

        (a) Open Clusters

        (b) Globular Clusters

    2. The Age of Clusters

    3. Evolutionary Tracks

XV. The Milky Way and Other Galaxies           Stars and Galaxies Web Sites

A. Structure

    1. Disk

    2. Nucleus

    3. Halo

    4. Populations I and II

B. Classification

C. Clusters

XVI. Modern Cosmology         Cosmology Web Sites

A. The Expanding Universe: Hubble's Law

B. Cosmological Theories

    1. The Big Bang

        (a) Ever Expanding

        (b) Oscillating

    2. The Steady State

    3. Other

C. Observational Evidence

        1. Density

        2. Age

        3. Quasars

        4. Background Radiation

D. The Geometry of the Universe